Method and system for an efficient multiple access polling protocol for interactive communication

Abstract

A polling procedure providing the capabilities to assign and dynamically modify a user's communication parameters (i.e., response allocation and polling rate) based on the user's bandwidth requirements. In addition, the polling procedure instructs the users to delay their responses as a function of round-trip propagation delay and remaining response allocation for previously polled users to ensure that poll responses from separate users do not overlap.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A polling method for providing efficient access to a shared communications medium by minimizing collisions and idle time for a plurality of interactive user stations coupled to a remote station which transmits polling signals, each user station having individual bandwidth requirements, the method comprising the steps of: establishing connections between the remote station and user stations;   assigning to each user station, upon connection, a definite and respective polling rate, polling rate being defined as the number of polls per unit time received by a user station;   assigning to each user station, upon connection, a definite and respective response size;   assigning to each user station a respective delay;   transmitting a polling signal from the remote station to each user station at the respective assigned polling rates; and   transmitting a response from each user station no greater in size than the respective response sizes, the step of transmitting a response from the user station to the remote station occurring in response to said polling signal but after said respective delay of time.   
     
     
       2. A polling method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the individual bandwidth requirements of the user stations are communicated by transmitting a request for modification from a user station to the remote station which indicates the bandwidth requirements for the user station. 
     
     
       3. A polling method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of modifying, in accordance with the individual bandwidth requirements of the user stations, at least one of the respective polling rates or the respective response sizes for the user stations; and   continuing communication between the remote station and the user stations with the modified polling rates and response sizes.   
     
     
       4. A polling method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user station delay is related to the response sizes assigned to user stations which are polled prior in order to the concerned user station. 
     
     
       5. A polling method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user station delay is related to a propagation delay incurred by the data when transmitted from the respective user station to the remote station. 
     
     
       6. A polling system for providing efficient access to a shared communications medium by minimizing collisions and idle time for a plurality of interactive user stations coupled to a remote station which transmits polling signals, each user station having individual bandwidth requirements, comprising: means for establishing connections between the remote station and user stations;   means for assigning to each user station, upon connection, a definite and respective polling rate and a definite and respective response size;   means for assigning to each user station a respective delay;   means for transmitting a polling signal from the remote station to each user station at the respective assigned polling rates; and   means for transmitting a response from each user station no greater in size than the respective response sizes, the transmission from the concerned user station to the remote station occurring in response to said polling signal but after said respective delay of time.   
     
     
       7. A polling system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the individual bandwidth requirements are communicated by a means for transmitting a request for a modification from a user station to the remote station which indicates the bandwidth requirements for the user station. 
     
     
       8. A polling system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising means for modifying, in accordance with the individual bandwidth requirements of the user stations, at least one of the respective polling rates or the respective response sizes for the user stations. 
     
     
       9. A polling system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the user station delay is related to the response sizes assigned to user stations polled prior in order to the concerned user station. 
     
     
       10. A polling system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the user station delay is related to a propagation delay incurred by the data when transmitted from the respective user station to the remote station. 
     
     
       11. A polling system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the response is in the form of a packet of data. 
     
     
       12. A polling method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the response is in the form of a packet of data.